Pros

1 - His profile will rise

When you play for one of the biggest clubs in the world your stock instantly grows. Benteke would transform from Premier League performer into top-flight superstar. His name would be recognised globally because of the team he plays for and that in itself is a huge ego boost.

2 - His game will improve

Playing with better players has a huge benefit - it helps your own performances. Not only will he receive better service and therefore score more goals, his all-round game will go up a notch. Having the opportunity to bounce ideas and picked up tips off seasoned international stars will only enhance his displays.

3 - More money

It would be unfair to say that Benteke is motivated by money. But let’s not be naive. The chance of doubling his wages is obviously a big deal - it would be in any walk of life. Villa were prepared to make him the highest-paid player by offering a new deal but the Premier League’s big-boys can blow the claret and blues out of the water.

4 - Achieve dreams

Benteke wants to play in the Champions League and let’s be honest by staying at Villa, he has no chance of that. At 24-years-old, he’s primed for a big move and now he feels it’s the time to start realising those childhood aspirations.

Christian Benteke of Aston Villa celebrates his goal for Aston Villa

5 - Become a legend

The striker is happy here in England and settled. Therefore he could easily spend the next five or six years in the country and become one of the Premier League’s great goalscorers. He certainly has a better chance of doing that with a move away.

Cons

1 - Become a bench warmer

Benteke is Villa’s prized asset, no doubt about it. But by moving to a team with Champions League aspirations he will just be one of a large group of stars. Competition will be rife wherever he moves and he may not even be guaranteed a starting spot.

2 - Lose place in national team

Belgium’s forward line is impressive and right now Benteke is at the heart of it. But with so much talent in that squad, boss Marc Wilmots will only start the striker who is in the best form. If Benteke moves and isn’t a regular starter that could hinder his chances of featuring in Euro 2016.

Joe Cole in action with team mates Christian Benteke and Micah Richards during an Aston Villa training session

3 - Struggle to settle

A move out of Birmingham might not seem like a big deal, but new surroundings can easily cause problems. Benteke won’t want to commute every day and those early days living in a hotel become frustrating. Housing complications can be stressful and that will have an impact on his performances.

4 - Might not fit into style of play

May sound strange to spend £32.5million on someone who isn’t an ideal fit, but you never really know what you’re getting until it’s too late. Benteke is the type of player you can build a team around and it’s obvious what works around him. Sometimes it just doesn’t click, though.

5 - Never return to his best

We’ve seen what happens to big players when they move for big money and fail to his the heights. Look at Fernando Torres for example, he’s never been the same player since leaving Anfield. Benteke will be confident in his own ability but a bad season could really knock him off track. Then you’re fighting to recover.